How to take notes on day 1?

[TheNobleNoir]

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I was wondering how I should plan to take notes (or not) during class. Our lectures are all recorded. In undergrad, if the lectures were recorded I would just write down things that I thought were notable or unique/things I didn't understand. Is this how it will be done in med school, or will I have to be taking notes non-stop?

 

[Vee]

Does your school give you access to the powerpoints? If so, print those out beforehand. That way you'll only have to take minimal notes to clarify certain slides. You'll be able to pay better attention to the lecture if you're not worrying about trying to write it all down.

 

[DD214_DOC]

You're in trouble if you have to ask us how you should be studying. Haven't you figured this out by now?

 

[DH78]

You're in trouble if you have to ask us how you should be studying. Haven't you figured this out by now?

Do you study in med school the same way you did in undergrad? I thought students typically adapted a new method of studying, and the OP is looking for some hints.

OP, I've wondered this too. I think it will become clear as we progress, though.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

If I had to do it over again ...

Quick 30 mins glance thru of material

Pay attention in lecture, only jot down things that are emphasized

Take an hour break after classes end, then watch the lectures if they are recorded - usually in faster speed - take all the detailed notes you want.

End the night with a glance thru of the next day's material - 30 mins

Bed.

 

[jonb12997]

if I had to do it again... (I was one that went to class, a lot of people will say, don't bother going to class, that wasn't me).

get your powerpoints either on your computer or printed before the lecture if available, or make sure you have your lecture note packet with you. Then as the lecturer goes through, just pay attention, and if they say something else important write it down, make small notes next to/below the slide/outline to make sure you understand the information.

 

[Bacchus]

You're in trouble if you have to ask us how you should be studying. Haven't you figured this out by now?

I realize you're an MSIII now, but I find no way that undergrad studying techniques making us successful for any year in med school.

 

[Booter008]

BUY A RECORDER = secret to med school....especially for clinician lecturers

 

[hanky1982]

BUY A RECORDER = secret to med school....especially for clinician lecturers

Agreed, didn't figure that one out till late in 2nd year. Does wonders.

 

[DD214_DOC]

I realize you're an MSIII now, but I find no way that undergrad studying techniques making us successful for any year in med school.

I'm actually an MSIV.

The whole, "Don't do what you did in undergrad thing" is very misleading. They really should be more specific and say, "Don't manage your study TIME like you did in undergrad".

The actual process of HOW you LEARN is not going to change. If you learned and did well in undergrad by going to lectures and actively participating, don't stop doing that. If you learned well by taking detailed notes with multiple colors of highlighters, don't stop doing that.

My first two semesters did not go well because I did NOT do what I did in undergrad. I did really well in undergrad because I didn't go to lectures, studied on my own. I studied by reading through things and thinking about them in the context of problems or situations. I tried to do what the faculty in med school told me to do and it didn't work.

I was still able to pass, but it wasn't until I said, "screw them I'm doing what I know works" and went back to HOW I studied in undergrad that my grades went up by over 20 points. I went from low-mid 70s to high 80s/low 90s.

Changing your habits from undergrad is more related to how you manage your time than how you should approach learning the material. How you function is not going to change simply because you're now in medical school.

 

[Bacchus]

That was helpful, compared to your other post. Thanks.

 

[jonb12997]

I realize you're an MSIII now, but I find no way that undergrad studying techniques making us successful for any year in med school.

The amount of time that you're going to spend is going to be WAY higher, and you're going to have to be more efficient, so yes, in that sense you are correct. However, I'd imagine that for the most part the type things you did to study in undergrad is going to be the type of things you do/did to study in medical school.

For undergrad biology I would spend a couple nights before the tests going through my notes and highlighting and taking bigger notes and maybe making major review point sheets. What I did in med school was do the same thing, except I did that every night! So in that sense, you're often going to use the same techniques.

 

[HarMegido]

Do you study in med school the same way you did in undergrad? I thought students typically adapted a new method of studying, and the OP is looking for some hints.

OP, I've wondered this too. I think it will become clear as we progress, though.

study the same way as you did in undergrad, add more intensity, and adjust as you need to. at least that way you don't just jump into a new way of studying and you feel comfortable from the beginning. the key is to adjust and tweak your studying habits

 

[Sanford Montalt]

That was helpful, compared to your other post. Thanks.

I`m new
How do I start a forum?

 

[Sanford Montalt]

🙂

I`m new
How do I start a forum?

 

[Sanford Montalt]

🙂

i want to know if anyone got into mcv from their fast track?

 

[punkiedad]

study the same way as you did in undergrad, add more intensity, and adjust as you need to. at least that way you don't just jump into a new way of studying and you feel comfortable from the beginning. the key is to adjust and tweak your studying habits

I am very nervous overall....The waiting is killing me.

 

[thejanitor99]

I was wondering how I should plan to take notes (or not) during class. Our lectures are all recorded. In undergrad, if the lectures were recorded I would just write down things that I thought were notable or unique/things I didn't understand. Is this how it will be done in med school, or will I have to be taking notes non-stop?

Just throwing out one other way to maximize study time. The way I did it was to print out the powerpoints with 4-6 slides per sheet of paper. I would then wait until after the lecture was given and then download the MP3 and listen to it on double speed while only highlighting what was emphasized or talked about on the slides. I would NOT try to learn or even remember anything while I was highlighting or writing things down. If a slide wasn't talked about....then I never looked at it. I would then go back and use my prepared "highlighted and annotated" slides to study from. I avoided class like the plague and did all my work from home. Saved at least 1.5 hours a day of drive time, not to mention gas $$ . I did this throughout both years 1 and 2 of med school did very well.

Just my $.02 and I'm sure no one else would ever do it this way, I just thought I would contribute. 😱

 

[rkaz]

Did you all actually READ though the textbooks, or merely go through your class notes? While I can imagine that not reading might be okay for someone who has done a SMP and already seen the material before... I can't imagine not reading the textbooks as someone taking these classes for the first time.

 

[Semicolon]

Did you all actually READ though the textbooks, or merely go through your class notes? While I can imagine that not reading might be okay for someone who has done a SMP and already seen the material before... I can't imagine not reading the textbooks as someone taking these classes for the first time.

As far as I've heard from several current students, it's pointless to purchase all the "required" textbooks in the syllabus or expect to have the chance to read through them all. It's best to get board review material and go over those books as you go through the topics in class.

 

[LSU Alex]

I was wondering how I should plan to take notes (or not) during class.

With pen and paper... preferably in the language of your choice (wingdings are fun).

Seriously... we can't tell you that. You are gonna have to go to your school, experiment, and see what works best. Undergrad techniques don't always work. You'll find your method inside of 2 months. Don't worry... if you actually put the work in, you won't be behind. Just make sure you figure it out before you have to tackle renal physiology. Good luck and congrats on your new life! 👍

 

[thejanitor99]

Did you all actually READ though the textbooks, or merely go through your class notes? While I can imagine that not reading might be okay for someone who has done a SMP and already seen the material before... I can't imagine not reading the textbooks as someone taking these classes for the first time.

I never read out of a single textbook or bought any for that matter ( Netter's doesn't count 😉 . If you ask me reading out of a textbook is a complete waste of time. I would rather know a "little" information (the lectures) absolutely cold and be able to recite them from memory, than to have read hundreds of pages of textbooks and vaguely be familiar with the material. When it comes time to be out in rotations, your attendings expect you to be able to come up with answers and information out of thin air....there are no multiple choice questions to jog your memory. Just my $.02

 

[rddoms]

Get a Netter (you can get A's without most of the books). Grab the note packets from lecture. Read them. Read them again. Write a summary of the notes if that sort of thing helps you. Repeat for each lecture-based class.

Old tests are available at some schools, and can be helpful the day before the test.

 

[Stversko]

I am looking into using Microsoft OneNote, i never used it in undergrad but after messing around with it a bit this summer i feel that it will be an asset to my note taking and study skills. especially if your like me and cant read your own handwriting on those powerpoint slides.

 

[Spooner13]

I am looking into using Microsoft OneNote, i never used it in undergrad but after messing around with it a bit this summer i feel that it will be an asset to my note taking and study skills. especially if your like me and cant read your own handwriting on those powerpoint slides.

I second this. I didn't discover OneNote until a few weeks ago, but it seems like it could really be a central study/note-taking tool that I'll use. And yeah, it's hard to read my handwriting sometimes too. And when I can read it, it doesn't make sense half of the time.